Charles Leclerc has a difficult task at the Formula 1 race in Canada on Sunday.
The Ferrari driver gets a penalty of ten starting places because Ferrari installed a third control electronics in his F1-75. With this engine element, he is therefore above the permitted limit and will be penalized.
It was actually discussed in advance whether Ferrari would replace the turbocharger on Leclerc’s Ferrari, because the Monegasse was already at the limit of the permitted parts after the damage in Spain. Due to the next total loss in Baku, a penalty for Canada seemed almost inevitable.
But when the message from the FIA came in shortly after midnight, the surprise came: Ferrari was not penalized for the turbocharger, but for the third control electronics.
Yuki Tsunoda also transferred as a penalty
Curious: Ferrari only installed the second electronics in the car for the first training session in Montreal – in addition to a new engine, a new MGU-H and a new MGU-K.
For Leclerc, the first violation of the engine quota means a penalty of ten starting places. Should he change another element this weekend, he would be placed at the end of the grid.
Yuki Tsunoda (AlphaTauri) is already waiting there, who is over the limit with six elements and will also be transferred.
Formula 1: Charles Leclerc 34 points behind Max Verstappen
Leclerc is at the limit with the engine, turbocharger, MGU-H and MGU-K and can change a second energy storage device without penalty.
When it comes to the exhaust system, he is currently on the fourth of eight permitted units. The Monegasque has the second sets of the outer and inner transmission elements – four are allowed in the season.
Before the Formula 1 weekend in Canada, Leclerc is third in the championship with 116 points – 34 points behind leader Max Verstappen.